The weekly game release of the North Dakota State University Bison for the game against Montana at Washington Grizzly Stadium in Missoula on September 6.

North Dakota State meets its first NCAA Division I-AA foe in more than 20 years when the Bison journey to Missoula, Montana to face Montana...Both teams are undefeated after opening the season with non-conference victories last weekend...NORTH DAKOTA STATE earned a 28-7 win over Tusculum College of Tennessee in the Fargodome last Saturday...The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Bison dating back to October of last season...NDSU has won 35 of its last 50 games dating back to the final four games of the 1998 season...MONTANA is 1-0 after opening on the road at Maine last weekend with a 30-20 decision...The Grizzlies are coming off an 11-3 season in 2003 but lost three of their final four games to close out the year.

2003 North Dakota State Football Schedule / Results (1-0 overall, 0-0 NCC) THE SEASON: NORTH DAKOTA STATE goes on the road for the first time this season, facing NCAA Division I-AA foe Montana in Missoula, MT...The Bison opened the season with a 28-7 non-conference home win over Tusculum last week...NDSU will not open North Central Conference play until September 27th against South Dakota State...The win snapped a 4-game losing streak for the Bison dating back to October of last season...NDSU continues to be the most successful grid program in NCAA II history, winning five national playoff championships, appearing in seven national title games in the previous 22 years, and claiming eight national crowns since 1965. Date Opponent Site Time/Result Rank Quick Notes A30 TUSCULUM Fargo W, 28-7 --/--/-- Rod Malone runs for 124 yards and 3 TDs; Defense holds Tusculum to a minus 4 yards rushing S6 At Montana Missoula 1:05 p.m. --/--/22 NDSU leads series, 2-1, but the teams last met in 1970 S20 CALIF-DAVIS Fargo 7 p.m. UC-D ended a 3-game Bison win streak in the series last season S27 *SO. DAK. STATE Fargo 7 p.m. SDSU's win last season was just the 3rd over NDSU in last 27 yrs O4 *At MSU-Mankato Mankato 1 p.m. NDSU has won eight of last nine in this series O11 *NEB-OMAHA Fargo 1 p.m. The Bison have won the last two meetings in Fargo O18 *At North Dakota Grand Forks 1 p.m. UND has won nine of last 12 in most played DII rivalry O25 *At Augustana Sioux Falls 1 p.m. Augustana's win last year was first in Fargo in 40 years N1 *SOUTH DAKOTA Fargo 1 p.m. Two teams played 4 OT game last year, longest in NDSU history N8 *At St. Cloud State St. Cloud 1 p.m. SCSU's win last year snapped a 6-game Bison win streak in series N15 CONC-ST. PAUL Fargo 1 p.m. This is the first meeting between the two teams Home Game in Capitals *North Central Conference Games Starting times are local times Rank (NDSU's rank in 3 weekly national polls--AFCACoachesPoll/D2football.com/FootballGazette)

BISON HEAD COACH CRAIG BOHL North Dakota State head coach CRAIG BOHL is in his first season at the helm of the Bison with a 1-0 mark to date...He is 0-0 in North Central Conference play...Bohl came to NDSU in 2003 from the University of Nebraska where he was an assistant coach for eight seasons including defensive coordinator over the final three years...He was an assistant at North Dakota State, Tulsa, Wisconsin, Rice, and Duke prior to Nebraska...He played his college ball at Nebraska (1977-79)

THE MONTANA SEASON MONTANA won its 2003 season opener at Maine last Saturday by a 30-20 score...The Grizzlies are coming off an 11-3 season of a year ago...Montana opened with a 10-0 mark but lost three of the final four.

MONTANA HEAD COACH BOBBY HAUCK University of Montana head coach BOBBY HAUCK is in his first season at the helm of the Grizzlies with a record of 1-0 to date...He was an assistant coach at Washington for the past four seasons (1999-2002)...Hauck has also served as an assistant at Montana, UCLA, Northern Arizona, and Colorado...He is a 1988 graduate of Montana.

TRAVEL PLANS: North Dakota State will depart via charter airline on Friday for Missoula, MT...The Bison will headquarter at the Best Inn & Suites South in Missoula...NDSU is scheduled for a light workout on Friday in Missoula...NDSU will return home via charter airline immediately following the game on Saturday.

THE SERIES: This will be the fourth meeting between North Dakota State and Montana with the Bison holding a 2-1 advantage...However, the two teams have not met in more than 30 years...The Bison have won the last two meetings and both were bowl game affairs...NDSU posted 30-3 and 31-16 wins over the Grizzlies in 1969 and 1970 respectively in the Camelia Bowl in Sacramento, California when both schools were classified as NCAA College Division teams...NDSU won the national championship in 1969 and finished second in the nation in 1970 after downing the Grizzlies in those two games...The series began in 1914 in Missoula with a 13-0 Montana victory.

LAST MEETING: North Dakota State made it two-in-a-row over the University of Montana in Camellia Bowl action by whipping the Grizzlies 31-16 to cap another undefeated season in December of 1970.

The Bison defeated Montana 30-3 in 1969 Camellia Bowl and extended its streak to five wins in six bowl games during a 7-year span. This time, the Bison took advantage of five lost Grizzly fumbles and the expertise of quarterback Mike Bentson. Bentson totalled 208 yards in total offense and scored three TDs.

His TD runs came on bursts of 4, 1 and 5 yards. Dennis Preboski tallied from five yards out and Jim Twardy booted a 34-yard field goal. NDSU rolled up a 28-3 margin in the second period and was never seriously threatened.

INJURIES: NORTH DAKOTA STATE came through fall camp with just one major injury...Junior backup wide receiver TIM ERICKSON went down with a knee injury in the final scrimmage of the fall camp and will be lost for the season...The Bison lost six starters including three for the season and a total of 14 players including 10 for the season during the 2002 season: Name Pos. When Injured Injury Status Tim Erickson WR Fall Camp Knee OutSeason Starters in Bold Face

MONTANA did not issue an injury report...However, junior tight end WILLIE WALDEN is expected to play against the Bison after missing the Maine game due to a summer school grade snafu...Walden is listed as the starter...Returning starting tight end from a year ago, CONOR MOLLOY, missed the opener with an injury and is not listed on the depth chart again this week.

BISON TRADITION: North Dakota State has a number of notable items going for itself despite a rare losing season in 2002...Here is a look: ...The Bison are 207-56-2 over the last 265 games (including regular and post-season play) ...The Bison have won 180 of their last 227 regular season games (180-45-2) ...NDSU has won 153 of its last 196 North Central Conference games (153-41-2) ...NDSU has won 98 of its last 132 North Central Conference games (98-33-1) ...NDSU has posted 37 winning seasons in the last 39 years...Beginning with the 1964 season, only the 1975 and 2002 teams have suffered a losing record...The Bison have won 23 NCC championships in the last 39 years.

WINNING SEASONS STREAK SNAPPED: North Dakota State's string of 26 straight winning seasons has been snapped...The 2-8 season in 2002 was the first for the Bison since 1975...The Bison were 2-7 in 1975...NDSU has had winning seasons in 37 of the last 39 seasons.

BISON CAPTAINS: North Dakota State elected four captains for the 2003 season...They include a pair of juniors in quarterback TONY STAUSS and offensive center ROB HUNT...Senior linebacker JOSH MOCK and senior strong safety MIKE SHEPPARD round out the team captains.

AT HOME: North Dakota State lost four games at home in a season in 2002 for only the second time over the last 39 years...NDSU had a 22-game home field winning streak snapped during the 2002 season...That streak stretched over five seasons dating back to 1998 through the 2002 season opener and was snapped by Augustana early in the 2002 season...NDSU has had great success at home over the years...NDSU played at the storied Dacotah Field for 40-plus seasons before moving into the Fargodome in 1993...The Bison have won 50 of the 61 games they have played in the Fargodome...NDSU is 92-13-2 in the last 107 games at home...The Bison are 124-16-2 over their last 141 games at home, losing only to Mankato State (three times--28-21 in 1984, 28-22 in 1987, and 27-7 in 1991), Grand Valley State (21-17 in 1991), St. Cloud State (twice--23-21 in 1992 and 31-7 in 2002) North Dakota (four times--34-13 in 1994, 33-19 in 1996, 39-25 in 1998, & 12-6 in 2002), Nebraska-Omaha (twice--24-21 in 1996 & 27-21 in 1997), Emporia State (23-21 in 1998), Northern Colorado (twice--29-19 in 1998 & 29-7 in 2002), and Augustana (23-6 in 2002)...That dates back to the opening game of the 1980 season (when Northern Michigan won 10-0 over the Herd)...The Bison are an incredible 194-25-3 at home over the last 40 years...Here is a look at NDSU at home since 1976:

THE ROAD: Despite a recent slump that has found the Bison losing seven games on the road over the last two years, NDSU has played very well on the road in recent years...NDSU has won 43 of the last 69 road games...NDSU is now 90-42 on the road since 1980...It's even better since 1982 with the Bison going 83-36 over that span...NDSU was 6-0 on the road in 1986, 1988 and 1990...Here is a look at NDSU on the road since 1980:

MORE TRADITION: North Dakota State has perhaps the most successful college football program over the last 40 years...Over that time, NDSU is 340-93-3 (a winning percentage of .783)...The Bison have won 10 or more games 11 times in the last 22 seasons...NDSU is 202-54-2 (.787) since 1981...(10-3, 12-1, 12-1, 11-2, 11-2-1, 13-0, 6-4, 14-0, 8-3-1, 14-0, 7-3, 10-2, 7-3, 9-3, 10-3, 6-4, 9-3, 7-4, 9-2, 12-2, 7-3, 2-8 in 2002, and 1-0 in 2003).

NON-CONFERENCE GAMES: North Dakota State is 17-2 in non-conference regular-season games (not counting playoff action) over the past 12 years...The Bison are 27-4 in non-conference regular season games over the past 22 years.

SEASON OPENING GAMES: North Dakota State has won 14 of the last 16 season-openers and is 32-7-1 over the last 40 season openers after the 28-7 win over Tusculum in 2003...NDSU is 71-29-7 in 107 season-opening games...The only season-opening losses in the last 16 years came to Grand Valley State in 1991 and Emporia State in 1998...The Bison have opened the season at home for 16 straight years...The last time the Bison opened the season on the road was in 1987 at Northern Michigan (a 10-6 loss).

HOME OPENERS: North Dakota State has won 21 of its last 23 home openers and is 36-3-1 in the last 40 home openers including the 28-7 win over Tusculum in 2003.

STARTING EXPERIENCE: North Dakota State has a number of players with starting experience to call on in 2003...32 players (18 on offense, 12 on defense, 2 kickers) now have at least some starting experience...Just one player has 20 or more starts--offensive center Rob Hunt (21)--and only 14 players have 10 or more starts.

...SCORING DRIVES: North Dakota State has the ability to be a quick-strike offense in 2003...The Bison have four scoring drives with two of those taking five plays or less. Scoring Total Total Game Drives Time Avg. Plays Avg. 5 & Under 1-Play TC 4 7:15 1:49 21 5 2 1 UM UC-D SDSU MSUM UN-O UND AC USD SCSU CU-SP Season 4 7:15 1:49 21 5 2 1 *Includes scoring drives in overtime when no clock was run **Average based on regular drives only

...POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: North Dakota State has come up with one turnover in the 2003 season but the Bison failed to convert that into a score. TOs Scores................. Game Gained* TD FG-FGA Safety Pts. TC 1 0 0-0 0 0 UM UC-D SDSU MSUM UN-O UND AC USD SCSU CU-SP Season 1 0 0-0 0 0

..INSIDE THE 20/10: North Dakota State punter JOHN BONICELLI is averaging 44.9 yards per kick this season but more importantly has been able to nail three kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line including one inside the 10...Here are the stats for his ability to keep opponents pinned inside the 20 and inside the 10 with his leg this year: Game Punts Avg/Punt Inside 20 Inside 10 TC 7 44.9 3 1 UM UC-D SDSU MSUM UN-O UND AC USD SCSU CU-SP Season 7 44.9 3 1

MIXED BAG FOR ROOKIE COACHES: North Dakota State rookie coaches have had mixed success in their opening games at the helm of the Bison...The chart reads 6-3 since the resurgence of Bison football in the early 1960s...Here is a look that those initial games for eight previous coaches over that span:

Dating back to the beginning of Bison football, rookie coaches are 18-9-2 in their initial games as the head coach of the Thundering Herd.

QUARTERBACK DEBUT: North Dakota State junior quarterback TONY STAUSS made his debut at the controls of the Bison offense a good one...The Racine, WI product, who started three games last season for the Northwestern Wildcats of the Big 10 conference, directed the Bison to four scoring drives in the opener against Tusculum on Saturday...Stauss completed 22 of 30 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown in the air.

FINAL SEASON: The 2003 campaign will mark the final year in NCAA Division II ranks for North Dakota State...It will also be the final year for the Herd in the North Central Conference...A charter member of the league back in 1922, NDSU will move to the NCAA Division I ranks next season (I-AA in football)...The Bison have one of the greatest success stories in Divison II history, winning eight national championships over the years...The Bison won NCAA College Division titles in 1965, 1968, and 1969 via the wire services and then won five NCAA Division II titles through the playoff system from 1983 to 1990 (1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990) and were runnerups two other times (1981, 1984)...The Bison have won 26 conference football titles, the most in the history of the league...NDSU's last title came in 1994.

THIRD TIME OVER 100: North Dakota State senior halfback ROD MALONE looked sharp in running for 124 yards on 16 carries and scoring three times in the season-opening win over Tusculum...Malone ripped off runs of 30 and 35 yards and scored on runs of one, 14, and nine yards...Malone averaged 7.8 yards per carry in the game...The 100-yard performance for Malone is the third of his career at NDSU...He ran for 149 yards against Winona State and 185 yards against South Dakota in 2002.

NEGATIVE YARDS: North Dakota State's defense held Tusculum's running game to a minus four yards in the game...It was the first time the Bison had held an opponent to negative yards rushing since NDSU limited Angelo State to minus nine yards in the 2001 season opener, 20 games ago.

FIRST DIVISION I-AA FOE IN 21 YEARS: Montana will be the first Division I-AA foe for the Bison in 21 years...NDSU was scheduled to face I-AA foe Maine two years ago in 2001 but that game was cancelled due to the September 11th national tragedies in New York City, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania...The last test with a I-AA foe was a 12-7 home win against Northern Iowa in 1982.

OUTSTANDING TRADITIONS: Montana has been the power in Division I-AA football in recent years...The Grizzlies have won a pair of national championships (1995 and 2001)...Montana has appeared in the I-AA national title game four times in the past eight years, falling in the national title game in both 1996 and 2000...UM has appeared in the Division I-AA playoffs 10 consecutive years entering this season.

That stacks up very similar to the North Dakota State program that appeared in the NCAA Division II national playoffs six consecutive years from 1981 to 1986, 11 of 12 years from 1981 to 1992, and 14 of 17 seasons from 1981 to 1997...Over that span, NDSU won five national championships, finished second twice, and reached the semifinals one other time...NDSU added another semifinal appearance in 2000.

FAVORED: Montana is the favorite to capture the Big Sky championship in 2003...The Grizzlies took 26 of the 33 first place votes in the media poll and four of the eight first place votes in the coaches poll.

QUARTERBACK: Montana forte is the pass and the Grizzlies will do it with junior JC transfer Jeff Disney...Disney got his first start last week, completing 17 of 30 passes for 152 yards and one TD...Disney was in a heated battle with Colorado transfer Craig Ochs entering fall camp but Ochs suffered an ankle injury in fall camp and is not listed on the two-deep.